266 SCOTLAND. 



Climate, soil, and agriculture. The air <*f Scotland is more, 

 temperate than could be expected in so northerly a climate. This 

 arises partly from the variety of its hills, vallics, livers, and lakes > 

 but still more, as in England, from the vicinity cf the sea, which af- 

 fords those warm breezes, that not only soften the natural keenness 

 of the air, but, by keeping it in perpetual agitation, render it pure 

 and healthful, and prevent those epidemic distempers that prevail in 

 many other countries. In the neighbourhood of some high moun- 

 tains, however, which are generally covered with snow, the air is 

 keen and piercing for about nine months in the year. The soil in 

 general is not so fertile as that of England ; and in many places less 

 fitted for agriculture than for pasture. At the same time there are 

 particular plains and rallies of the most luxuriant fertility; though 

 experience has proved, that many vegetables and r.ortulane produc- 

 tions do not come so soon to maturity in this country as in England. 



The soil of Scotland may be rendered, in many parts, nearly as 

 fruitful as that of England. It is even said that some tracts of the 

 Sow countries exceed in value English estates of the same extent, 

 because they are less exhausted and worn out than those of the south- 

 ern parts of the island : and agriculture is now perhaps as well under- 

 stood, both in theory and practice, among many of the Scotch land- 

 lords and farmers, as it is in any part of Europe. 



But the fruits of skill and industry are chiefly perceivable in the 

 counties lying upon the river Forth, called the Lothains, where the 

 farmers, as well as in Angus, generally rent from 3 to 500/. per aim. 

 are well fed, well clothed, and comfortably lodged. The reverse, 

 however, may be observed of a very considerable part of Scotland, 

 where the landlords, ignorant of their real interest, refuse to grant 

 ,such leases as would encourage the tenant to improve his own farm. 

 In such places the husbandman barely exists upon the gleanings of 

 a scanty farm, seldom exceeding 20 or 30/. per ann. the cattle are 

 Jean and small, the houses mean beyond expression, and the face of 

 the country exhibits the most deplorable marks of poverty and 

 oppression. 



Vegetables. ...Scotland in general, produces wheat, rye, barley, 

 ©,ats, hemp, flax, hay, and pasture. In the southern counties, the finest 

 garden fruits, particularly apricpts, nectarines, and peaches, are little, 

 if at all inferior to those in England ; and the same may be said of 

 the common fruits. The uncultivated parts of the Highlands abound 

 in various kinds of salubrious and pleasant-tasted berries ; though it 

 must be owned that many extensive tracts are covered with a strong 

 heath. The seacoast produces the alga-marina, dulse or tlulish, a 

 most wholesome nutritive weed, in great quantities, and other marine , 

 plants, which are eaten for nourishment or pleasure. 



Animals. ...This country contains few or no kinds either of wild or 

 domestic animals that are not common with its neighbours. The 

 red-deer and roe-buck are found in the Highlands ; but their flesh is 

 iiot comparable to English venison. Hares, and all other animals' for 

 game, are here plentiful ; as are the grouse and heath-cock, which js 

 a most delicious bird, as likewise the capperkaily, and the ptarmigan, 

 ■which is of the pheasant kind ; but these birds are scarce even in the 

 Highlands, and, when discovered, are very shy. Eagles and beautiful 

 falcons are not unfrequent here, and the shores abound in various kinds 

 of sea-fowl. The numbers of black catile that cover the hills of Scot- 

 land towards the Highlands, and sheep that are fed upon the, beautiful 



